76 THE STORY OF THE BIRDS 



We will next pass to a consideration of the large 

 and important order called Galliformes, which 

 includes what are popularly known as *' Game 

 Birds." Except for one or two trifling excep- 

 tions, they may be described as a homogeneous 

 group composed of perhaps half-a-dozen families. 

 The most aberrant forms associated with the 

 Galliformes, in the arrangement here adopted, 

 are the Megapodes (Megapodiidae), the Curas- 

 sows, Guans and allied forms (Cracidae), and 

 the Hoatzin (Opisthocomidae). These have been 

 accorded the rank of a sub-order by some syste- 

 matists, but family distinction only seems to 

 us sufficient. Morphologically the Megapodes 

 appear to be the lowest of the entire order, 

 confirmatory of which may possibly be their 

 very peculiar method of reproduction, the birds 

 burying their eggs in the ground or covering 

 them with a heap of mould and leaves, and 

 thus leaving them to be hatched by the sun's 

 rays or the warmth generated by the decaying 

 vegetation. The Curassows and Guans closely 

 resemble the Megapodes in structure, but their 

 habits are very different. They frequent arboreal 

 haunts, and make their nests in trees. It is said 

 that Guans interbreed with domestic Fowls. The 

 Hoatzin is certainly the most aberrant form of 



